Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
YOU don’t always get the chance to make amends after a mishap at the highest level of sport but Corbetts Cross made no mistake in atoning for running out in last year’s Albert Bartlett by bolting up in the recently-renamed Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase.
It was poignant that the grandson of the legendary figure the race is named after captured the prize, with Emmet Mullins delivering a cracking training performance for the J.P. McManus-owned 15/8 shot to bounce back from a Fairyhouse blip when falling last month.
For all that a 17-length margin of victory points to this being an easy success, winning rider Derek O’Connor deserves plenty of credit for how he restrained his mount over the extended three miles and six furlongs and used his mount’s superior speed cleverly. It was the rider’s fifth Festival win, and the trainer’s second.
O’Connor said: “It was a super performance. Emmet has done a wonderful job. He has prepared him to perfection. We had a mishap at Fairyhouse and I’d take the blame. I made the decision during the race to go for a gap, and it closed on me and we had a mishap. It was a bad preparation and it was my fault, but Emmet has recouped it and he turned up here in great shape.”
Mullins added: “It was a great honour and a privilege for The Jockey Club to name the race after Mrs Mullins, granny, and it’s extra special to win it. We were always very hopeful. I’ve no plans, and we’ll just enjoy this.”
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
IF it wasn’t already clear, Joseph O’Brien proved he has the knack to cracking the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle as long-time ante-post favourite Lark In The Mornin overcame ground concerns to score readily under J.J. Slevin.
Sean and Bernardine Mulryan’s 93-rated flat performer could have been called the likeliest winner from a long way out and took full advantage of an attractive hurdles mark of 122 in Britain.
O’Brien, speaking after the easy-to-back 9/1 shot struck by two lengths, said: “We were very worried about the rain, as we had a pretty strong view that he wanted better ground to be seen to best effect, but I thought that J.J. gave him a fantastic ride and found the best of the ground all the way around. He had plenty in the locker jumping the last, then pricked his ears.
“We thought that he was coming here with a real live chance, but so much rain fell last night that we had a conversation about whether we’d run or not. Luckily we did, and he seemed to handle it.”
Ultima Handicap Chase
A CLEAN sweep of the day one races for Irish trainers was avoided thanks to the highly consistent Chianti Classico, who provided Kim Bailey a Festival winner in the only Cheltenham race he has a runner in this week.
The 6/1 winner didn’t go unbacked and always appeared to be travelling smoothly under David Bass, finishing four and a half lengths clear of Twig and a further length and a quarter ahead of third-placed Meetingofthewaters for J.P. McManus and Willie Mullins.
Bailey said of the Sir Francis Brooke and Richard Pilkington-owned winner: “He jumped for fun apart from a big mistake at the top of the hill, and he was cantering down the hill. David has been confident all along and he was right. He adores this horse and says he’s a big terrier.”
Crowd watch
It felt quieter around Cheltenham town on Monday, and the crowd was also marginally down on 12 months ago for the opening day. A total of 60,181 attended, a marginal drop from 60,284 last year.
Sad postscript to Boodles and Ultima
It was a difficult day for connections of the Fergal O’Brien-trained Highland Hunter, who sadly died after being pulled up after the third last in the Ultima.
The Martin Brassil yard were also unfortunate to lose Ose Partir, who was brought down at the fourth flight in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.